Atlanta Opera laying off staff, cutting pay

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Opera is cutting pay of administrators and laying off staff to prevent a $823,000 deficit from growing larger. <br> <br> General manager Russell Allen said the Opera has been hurt by declining donations during the souring economy, as well as ineffectual artistic planning and marketing. <br> <br> The company&#39;s development director, who oversees fund-raising, and five other positions were eliminated, and several jobs have been reconfigured over the past 10 weeks, with one new position created. In the process, the opera&#39;s full-time staff has been reduced from 26 to 21 employees. <br> <br> ``In the past couple of years,&#39;&#39; Allen said, ``the opera has operated more or less in the black, with slight increases in 1999 and 2000. Then in 2001, the opera took a major hit.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Ticket revenue dropped 11 percent for the 2001 season and fewer donations came in, Allen said. The layoffs are expected to save the 21-year-old company about $100,000. Its annual budget is now $5.1 million while its endowment stands at $622,000.